Central Region Football Association (CRFA) has complained that it is struggling to secure match venues because most TNM Super League teams do not accommodate Premier Division matches as curtain-raisers due to unknown reasons.
In the latest incident, CRFA Vice-General Secretary, Antonio Manda, said they were forced to revise this weekend’s fixtures after learning that Super League outfit, Masters Security FC, do not want any other match played at Dedza Stadium before they host Moyale Barracks tomorrow.
He said they wanted a match between Dedza Young Soccer and Mtsiliza United to curtain raise the Masters’ game against Moyale but Masters’ officials snubbed the proposal.
Manda said it was not the first time that a Super League club has, despite Super League of Malawi giving the nod, refused to accommodate a Premier Division game as a curtain-raiser on match-day.
He said the Super League teams’ stance will affect the association’s plans to operate within Football Association of Malawi’s harmonised calendar which runs up to December 30 as there is a shortage of venues.
Reports have connected the attitude of the Super League teams to juju beliefs.
However, Masters General Secretary, Zachariah Nyirenda, has quashed CRFA’s claims, saying he was not aware of that development.
Nyirenda said their agreement with Dedza District Council, which owns the stadium, restricts playing two games on a single day at the stadium due to the poor condition of the pitch.
Meanwhile, Northern Region Football Association General Secretary, Masiya Nyasulu, they, too, used to face challenge when they wanted Premier Division club to play on the same venue that a Super League outfit was playing but the top-flight teams have since softened up.
Nyasulu said their Premier Division clubs were able to curtain raise the recent Moyale Barracks’ Airtel Top 8 quarter-final game against Nyasa Big Bullets at Mzuzu Stadium.
Southern Region Football Association Vice-General Secretary, Kingsley Simbeye, said they do not experience the challenges which their Central Region counterparts face, possibly due to Kamuzu Stadium closure.
Leave a Reply